Deion Sanders’ attorney, Harvey Steinberg, just dropped a legal bomb on August 20, filing documents to quash a subpoena demanding Coach Prime testify at his son Shilo’s bankruptcy trial. This isn’t some minor league scrimmage, folks. We’re talking about a potential five-day trial in Denver, clashing head-on with the Buffaloes’ season opener prep against Georgia Tech on September 3, and their travel schedule to Atlanta on September 1.
Coach Prime’s Game Day Prep Versus The Courtroom
Steinberg isn’t holding back, arguing that forcing Coach Sanders into a courtroom right before the season kicks off would be an “undue burden.” Seriously, how can the head coach of a major college program be expected to prep his team, travel to Georgia, and sit around a courthouse waiting to testify? It’s a wild ask, and Steinberg’s motion makes it clear that Sanders’ job requires him to be with the team, not in a legal battle. The stakes are huge for the Buffs’ opening game, and this trial conflict could seriously mess with their focus. Steinberg is even trying to get a protective order to stop Darjean from serving Deion, pushing for remote testimony if it’s absolutely necessary. This whole thing now falls to Judge Michael E. Romero to decide.
The $11 Million Debt That Started It All
So, what’s this trial even about? It’s Shilo Sanders, Deion’s 26-year-old son, trying to discharge over $11 million in debt. Almost all of that cash is owed to John Darjean, a former security guard from Shilo’s high school in Dallas. Darjean sued Shilo back in 2016, claiming Shilo caused him permanent injuries in 2015 while trying to snatch his phone, allegedly at Deion’s request. And here’s where it gets crazier: Darjean won an $11.89 million default judgment against Shilo in 2022 after Shilo dumped his attorneys in 2020 and then just didn’t show up for the trial! Shilo’s trying to get out of that monster debt now, saying he acted in self-defense, but Darjean is fighting back, calling it “willful and malicious injury.”
Did That Subpoena Even Land?
Beyond the “undue burden” argument, there’s another twist: the subpoena itself. Darjean’s attorney, Ori Raphael, filed a “proof of service” on August 19, claiming Steinberg accepted the subpoena for Deion. But Steinberg is flat-out denying it, asking the court to rule that “no service has occurred.” This isn’t the first time they’ve tried to get Deion either; the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office even tried to serve him in Boulder on August 11, and it wasn’t successful. So, while the Buffaloes are locking in for their big season opener, this legal drama is brewing, and it’s anyone’s guess if Coach Prime will be in Denver or on the sidelines when his team needs him most.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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